You might as well jump! That’s what an all-star lineup reminds us on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2026, as Van Halen’s 1984 classic “Jump” gets a makeover.
J Balvin and Amber Mark take vocal duties on the cover, while Blink-182’s Travis Barker fills it on up the drums, and guitar hero Steve Vai works his magic on the six-string.
The soccer campaign kicks off with “Bubbling Up,” the first of three new Coca-Cola films created for the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 across three host countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The updated “Jump” gets a sneak preview ahead of its official release in the coming months, according to a joint statement from FIFA and The Coca-Cola Company. Those synth stabs are impossible to miss.
The inclusion of Steve Vai in the project is something of a masterstroke. Not only does Vai stand at the very top of the ladder of great electric guitarists, as did late Van Halen guitarist, keyboardist and co-founder Eddie Van Halen, who passed in October 2020, aged 65. Vai went on to record and tour with VH singer David Lee Roth, who pursued a solo career following the release of 1984, the parent album of “Jump.”
The most successful song in the Van Halen canon, “Jump” was the moment when the band belated embraced the synthesizer, a weapon in so many artists’ arsenal in the first half of the ‘80s. For old school VH fans, it was a shocking sonic shift away from their traditional hard rock and blues-leaning sounds. Today, it still has bounce and somehow exists in a time rift, both fresh and vintage.
It’s the band’s only No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a position it locked down for five weeks. In the United Kingdom, “Jump” leapt to No. 7, and is one of the band’s two top 10 appearances.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the biggest yet. The tournament expands this time to 48 teams, an increase of 16 teams compared with the previous seven editions.
“Football is more than a game; it’s a shared passion with a tapestry of emotions that unites billions,” comments Arnab Roy, president, Coca-Cola Global Category.
“At Coca-Cola, we believe in the power of shared experiences. Our creative vision for this campaign is to harness the incredible energy of the FIFA World Cup and the rollercoaster of emotions that only this tournament can deliver, transforming them into real, tangible connections.”
Through “innovative experiences and compelling content,” Roy continues, “we’re bringing fans closer than ever before, whether they’re cheering in digital spaces, local bars, or at-home watch parties.”
Watch the “Bubbling Up” clip below.
